Wolves have a “massive problem” with their physicality but it “doesn’t look” like the answers are in the current squad, according to Gary O’Neil.
O’Neil was sacked on Sunday following a late defeat at home by relegation rivals Ipswich which has left the team 19th in the table and five points from safety.
The side’s defensive frailties were once again on show in that loss with the now managerless team having conceded the most goals in the league this season with 40, half of which have come from set-pieces and another league-high nine from corners.
The club are now in talks with Al-Shabab manager Vitor Pereira but, speaking to BBC Radio WM before he lost his job, O’Neil has already highlighted the problems the Portuguese could inherit.
“If your Achilles heel and your flaws are that bad you can’t cope with two basic things like that [the two goals from Ipswich], then the rest of it almost becomes irrelevant,” he said.
“We are massively lacking in those areas and when your weaknesses are that weak then it takes a hell of a lot of effort to make up for them.
“We are doing so much with the group to help them in those moments but we are not finding those answers.”
When asked if the the answer is in the current dressing room, O’Neil responded: “It doesn’t look like it, does it?
“At this moment in time, we have tried every player. Fans always think the player they haven’t seen is the answer. It was Carlos Forbs and then it wasn’t Carlos Forbs. Then it was Rodrigo Gomes and then it wasn’t. And then it is Tommy Doyle and then it isn’t. It is not that.
“We have a massive problem with physicality against teams. When we really need to find a way to dig in and cope with direct play, cope with balls in the box, we are falling short at this moment.”
Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds